Terms of Business

These terms of business apply to your contract with us. We believe that they are fair and clear. Please read them carefully.

1. Your contract with us

(i) The following definitions apply to the Terms of Business

“Drive” means any transport by us with horse-drawn carriage.

“Wedding” means transport by horse-drawn carriage from and/or to a wedding venue.

“Pleasure Drive” means a circular Drive by horse-drawn carriage.

“Total Fare” means the full price payable excluding any amounts for additional means of transport booked through us.

(ii) Your contract is with Biels Carriage Company. References to “we”, “us” and “our” are to Biels Carriage Company, including, where appropriate, our employees, agents, independent contractors and sub-contractors who shall all have the benefits of the defences and limitations provided by these Terms of Business.

(iii) Your contract with us shall take effect from the time that we confirm your booking with us by way of letter or email. Bookings are not transferable.

(iv) By making a booking with us you accept that these Terms of Business apply both to you and to all persons on whose behalf your booking is made and you thereby confirm that you have the necessary authority of such persons to do so on their behalf.

(v) Your contract with us is governed by these Terms of Business and by English law and the English courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute with us.

(vi) In some circumstances (see clause 5(ii) below) it may be necessary for you to use alternative means of transport, arranged by us. In those circumstances these Terms of Business will still apply.

(vii) Where you use our transport on a booking made through another carriage company, our Terms of Business will apply.

(viii) Where your booking includes additional means of transport, then that part of your journey will be subject to any relevant terms and conditions of the particular operator concerned.

(ix) Under the terms of the Data Protection Act we will be unable to deal with anyone other than yourself, in respect of your booking details, without your prior consent.

(x) We will never pass on your name and address to any other companies.

2. Booking and payment

(i) Any special requirements have to be declared at the time of booking, including additional decorations of carriage and/or horses, preferred routes, number of people travelling and any medical conditions that could be relevant.

(ii) No Wedding booking is accepted by Biels before we have done a thorough inspection on safety of route and road surface, availability of parking and harness-up area and the presence of a sheltered and safe place to wait during the ceremony, if applicable.

(iii) A 25% non-refundable deposit is required at the time we confirm booking and the cleared amount in our bank account secures the booking. The balance is due one calendar month before the event to allow time for clearance. Payments for bookings made within less than one calendar month before the event are due in full by return.

(iv) All payments will be in pound sterling, preferably by money transfer straight into our bank account. Cheque or cash payments may incur a surcharge. If this is the case you will be informed at the time of booking.

If any payment is not received by the due date, we will be entitled to cancel your booking without notice to you.

3. Fares

(i) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3(ii), fares are only guaranteed once your booking has been confirmed to you by email or letter.

(ii) In the event of an increase in general operating costs, we reserve the right to make a surcharge at the time of booking. In addition, a surcharge may be made as a result of any increase in costs (e.g. a significant increase in fuel prices) between the date of booking and the event. If applied, this will be collected prior to the event.

4. Amendments, cancellations and refunds

(i) Any changes to date, time or location of an event after the booking has been confirmed to you will be treated as a cancellation and a new booking.

(ii) A booking may be cancelled and any refund will be subject to a deduction as follows:

(a) one month or more before the event: 25% of the Total Fare

(b) less than one month before the event: the Total Fare

(iii) In no circumstances can we make a refund in respect of:

(a) cancellations made on or after the departure date

(b) unused portions of bookings

(c) amendments made within 24 hours of a booked Drive

(d) cancellations caused by events beyond your control, namely unusual and unforeseeable circumstances, which you could not control and the consequences of which you could not have avoided even if you had taken all due care.

(iv) If for any reason (e.g. staffing shortage, unfit horse, storm warning) we can not produce the agreed turn-out, we will attempt to find a suitable alternative. In case of a comparable turn-out we will regard our side of the contract fulfilled and no refund will be given. If we fail to find an alternative a full refund will be given. In all cases between these two the refund will depend on the alternative offered and its market value.

5. Travel and surcharges

(i) A Drive is valid only for the date, time, location and number of passengers specified at the time of booking.

(ii) We will seek to provide you with the journey as booked although journey start times may be affected by weather conditions, road closures or other operational requirements. We will try to arrange a suitable alternative if for any reason we are unable to provide the anticipated service within a reasonable time of your scheduled journey.

6. Your responsibilities

It is your responsibility to allow enough time for the Drive to a wedding to arrive on time. At the time of booking our representative will have given an indication on the time required to travel from the agreed point of departure to the wedding venue for you to include in your planning.

7. Children

(i) Children under 14 should be accompanied by an adult at all times when around the horses or in the carriage.

(ii) Parents/guardians should not permit children to run around the carriage and horses or go anywhere near the wheels or underneath the carriage or near the legs of the horses.

(iii) At weddings no more than two children will be allowed in the wedding carriage on either leg of the journey, provided that there is one adult per child to look after it and make sure the child remains seated throughout the journey and does not attempt to open the doors.

8. Pets

(i) Pets will not be allowed in the wedding carriage with the exception of guide dogs for the blind and help dogs.

(ii) All pets, including guide dogs and help dogs, must be declared and agreed with us at the time of booking.

(iii) Any animal coming on a Drive must be restrained on a leash or in a cage and is at all times the responsibility of the owner. Instructions from our staff regarding the animal(s) must be followed strictly.

9. Smoking policy

(i) Biels Carriage Company has a strict non-smoking policy and smoking will not be permitted in the carriages or around staff or horses.

10. Eating and drinking

(i) The only beverage allowed to be taken on the wedding carriage is water.

(ii) No food in any form will be taken or consumed on the wedding carriage, unless there are medical reasons. Such reasons should be declared at the time of booking.

(iii) On a Pleasure Drive we will allow such foods and soft drinks as will not soil the carriage or clothing of fellow passengers or staff.

11. Safety and security

(i) You are expected at all times to conduct yourself in a manner, which respects the health, comfort and safety of all persons and animals involved in the Drive. You are also expected to comply with any reasonable request made by a member of our staff. If you do not or if, in our opinion, your conduct is likely to give cause for concern, we reserve the right to refuse to allow you to board the carriage or require that you leave. Under such circumstances we regard the contract as cancelled by you and you will not be entitled to a refund. We shall otherwise have no liability to you.

(ii) Under no circumstances will you open the doors of the carriage. Any damage resulting from such an action will be repaired by us and the invoice sent to you.

(iii) You will ask permission before you approach the horses yourself or with a child and follow any reasonable instructions from our staff when allowed to do so. When you do approach the horses you have to be aware of and accept the risks associated with such animals.

12. Liability

(i) We will not be liable for loss of or damage to cash, negotiable securities, gold, silverware, jewellery, art, ornaments or any other valuables you chose to bring on your carriage Drive.

(ii) Apart from our agreement to refund any money paid by you in the circumstances as set out elsewhere in these Terms of Business, we will not be liable for any losses, damages or expenses arising from delay or for consequential losses howsoever arising. In no circumstances will we be liable to you for any loss, damage or expense of any nature which arises out of:

(a) your fault or that of any person in your driving or wedding party

(b) the act or omission of any third party who has no connection with the provision of the services we have agreed to provide to you where such act or omission is unforeseeable or unavoidable by us

(c) any unusual or unforeseeable circumstances outside our control where the consequences could not have been avoidable even with the exercise of all due care by us

(iii) Although we will do everything within reason to be on time, there could from time to time be delays due to adverse weather conditions or other operational circumstances beyond our control (e.g. traffic problems). We cannot accept liability for any costs or inconvenience caused by such delays. In such circumstances we will do our best to advise you of any delays.

(iv) We cannot accept liability for any costs or inconvenience caused by delays in your arrival at the destination of your Drive.

13. Feedback

If you have any concerns about the services provided by us, you should bring them to the immediate attention of our representative at the time. If your concern still cannot be resolved, you should contact us by telephone or in writing, quoting the booking reference and giving details of how we may contact you.

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